Tire, wheel, and locking ring assembling machine



April 1953 A. H. RERICK ETAL 2,635,682

TIRE, WHEEL, AND LOCKING RING ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Aug. 30, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS.

A H RERICK EIAL 2,635,682 TIRE, WHEEL, AND LOCKING RING ASSEMBLING MACHINE med Aug. 50, 1951 INVENTOR. W 75% agbwflfifl ATTORNEYJ'.

4' Sheets-She et 2 m M y April 21 1553 leq \JL'J pr l 1, 1953 AL H. RERICK E'I'AL 2,635,682

TIRE, WHEEL, AND LOCKING RING ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Aug. so, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet s IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEYS.

April 21, 1953 A. H. RERIcK EI'AL I 2,635,682

TIRE, WHEEL, AND LOCKING RING ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Aug. 50. 1951 '4 She ets-Sheet 4 HYDRAULIC PUMP MoTdn /22 I M: I 9

' l3! ,Ma lao 1l- & L CONVEYOR MOTOR ll? Ha //5, STOP 326 q H -1/9 I .M V 125 I26 //e\ STOP I K I M /27 13s 'E K136 /a7 4 STOP DOWN 138 CONVEYOR DOWN 9 [40 K 142 I PAM Down II3\ II/I45' I PAM UP J I K I47 STOP UP 322K150 I51 r r 152 CONVEYOR UP IN V EN TOR.

A TTORNEYS.

. locking ring away from the press.-

Patented Apr. 21, 1953 TIRE, WHEEL, AND LOCKING RING ASSEMBLI'NG MACHI'NE Albert: H. Rerick and. Glenn. A. Kellogg South- Bend, Iii-112,, assignors to The studebaker Corporation, South.Beml, Ind., avcorporation t Delaware Application August 30, 1951, Serial No. 244,334

4' Elaims. 1v

Onrinvention is: directed: to a new and improved machine. for. mechanically assembling a pneumatic; tire and wheel with a locking ring,

.Miore particularly our invention is. concerned with a press mechanism for assembling. mechanically an automotive vehicles; tire, wheel; and locking ring wherein a new and improved meansv is utilized for conveying-the heavytire and wheel into the: press, locating such. for assembly with the locking ring: and carrying the same away from; the press after completing the assembly of the. locking ring. with the wheel and. tire.

Briefly our invention: includes a substantially conventionat vertical press mechanism fitted a. special fixture and head assembly which cooperate for pressing locking rings onto. a wheeland. utilizing a. chain or articulate conveyor for moving; a tire and; wheel into position for assembly with. a. locking ring. Further, the articulate conveyor is; utilized tor carrying. the assembled combination of the tire, wheel and The press is also fitted with: certain. control switches and stops; suitably interconnected and electrically energized for semi-automatic assembly of the named: items; which: enables one to complete the otherwise difficult assembly operation involved in a quick, eflicient and accurate manner.

One of the main objects of' invention is to provide an assembling machine adapted fares-- sembling pneumatic automotive tires, wheels and locking rings in a quick and convenient manner with a. minimum: of effort;

Another object of our invention is to provide an assemblingmachine having an improved con veyor' table. means: whereby tires and wheels to be assembled may be moved mechanically from an. incoming or feed conveyor, placed in a ready position. for assembly with the locking ringand moved to an outgoing conveyor uponcompletion of. the; desired asssembly operation.

Another object of our invention is to provide a system of. switches and stops for our press whereconvenient, electrically actuated, semi-automatic control of our tire and; wheel assembling press: maybe accomplished for its operation to bring about the assembly and combination of a pneumatic automotive tire, wheel and locking ring,

The above and further objects and features of our invention wilI be recognized by those skilled in. theart from the following descriptive details thereof and as amplified by the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment of our invention;

In the drawings;

Figure 1-. is a. front elevational: view of our tire: and: wheel assembling press showing the, details of the conveyor table associated therewith and demonstrating its positioning of a tire'to be assembled with a. locking ring thereon;

Figure 2, is an: end. elevational view of the machine; illustrated in Figure 1, showing the details. of the lower: fixture and. assemblin head utilized wheel and locking. ring are combined thereby; Figure 3- is a. front: elevational view, similar to: Figure 1, illustrating. the positioning of. the,

press parts; and the stop mechanism associated with our tire: and wheel assembling, machine; when a tire and; wheel assembly arei-n aconditionto: be conveyed; away from the machine after assembly with a: locking ring andalso illustrating the utilization of the; movable conveyor table for this purpose; and- Figure- 4 is a schematic wiring diagram illustrating; the electrical. connection and association of. the various switches, automatic and manual. utilized for the: semi-automatic and; sequential controlof our tireand. wheel assembling machine.

. Turning. now to the features of our tire and wheel assembling machine as. illustrated. in. the drawings Figures 1 through 3.

With Particular reference to Figure 2: of: the awin s. it will. be seen. that a, conventional: press; 1:0. is. therein illustrated fbr supplying: the; pressur necessary in assembling; a locking. ring with. a. tire and Wheel. The; press f0 comprises essen.-.- tially a G-shapect frame having a vertical upright stanchion portion H ,4 an overhanging upper: head. portion I2 and an underhanging lower head portion l3, the latter of which is adapted to sup.- port the work for which our device; is designed to assemble. The press framing. be. constructed, as; illustrated, of prefabricated sections. ofv suitable weight sheet steel, or; the: like,. suitably welded together to make up theprefabricated (a shape as desired; Base plate members; I54, 134; are: positioned transversely of: theframe to give la-terai stability to: the press frame and to pro vide: a means-for tieing the same; to an underlying supporting bed or floor; all in aconventional manners The head portion I 2 of the press HF isfittedi'with a suitable hydraulic ram and piston assembly [5,; as illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, to: support and actuate a vertically movable head portion or our tire assembling mechanism as will appear later herein. The press and itsgeneral operating features are conventional to any j number of vertical upright presses commercially with the-press and the: manner in which a. tire,

. in Figure 1.

3 available, as will be recognized by one skilled in the art.

Supported on the lower head portion l3 of the press we have provided a movable conveyor table assembly, designated generally at 20, which constitutes our chief contribution over the prior art in this field and the features of which will now be set forth.

As seen from Figures 2 and 3 in particular, a horizontal bed p ate 2| is fitted transversely across the lower head l3 of the press frame. A stationary lower fixture ring member 22 is mounted centrally atop of base plate member 2| and rigidly connected thereto in an immobile manner. A pair of articulate link chains 23, 23 are mounted to run in parallel spaced relation on opposite sides of the ring member 22 (one in front and one behind the ring as viewed in Figure 1) each chain 23 comprising a closed endless loop. Side supporting bars 24, 24, as seen in Figure 2, are mounted in parallel relation to each of the chains 23 and outwardly therefrom to extend transversely across the bed plate member 2|; such bars constituting the upper links of a parallelogram style of linkage utilized for imbuing the chains 23 with a vertical arcuate movement as will be described presently. To each end of the bars 24 and depending therebeneath is rigidly fastened a bearing bracket 25, with the bracket members 25 on like ends of the two bars 24 rotatably supporting transversely extending shafts 25 and 26'. Sprocket wheels 21, 2'! are secured to the outer opposite ends of the shafts 2B and 26 for rotation therewith and for supporting the chain members 23 thereabout. To provide further support for a tire to be placed on top of the movable table structure just described, additional bars 28, 28 reaching 1ongitudinally of the bed member and positioned intermediate the ends of the shafts 26, 25 are provided. Opposite ends of the bars 28 are connected to the shafts 26, 26 by means of suitable lugs 29 which are positioned transversely to the ends of the bars 28 and loosely journal the shafts 26 and 26' therethrough to permit their rotational movement therein. As viewed in Figure-2, it will-be recognized that the bars 28 are positioned in parallel spaced relation and that such extend through the lower ring member 22 via vertical slotted openings 35 formed for that purpose in opposite sides of the ring member 22. It

will be recognized from the structure described-'- so far that the chain members 23, the supportingsprockets 21 therefor, the shafts 26 and 26 and the various bars 24 and 28 are adapted for movement transversely of the stationary ring member 22 to provide a translatory actuation of the movable table structure 2! 1 2 In order to properly support shaft 26 we have provided a bracket member 3|, bolted to the left side of the lower head l3 of the press as viewed As seen in Figure 2,-bracket member 3|. is provided with transversely projecting arms 32 at the extreme ends of which are formed cylindrical shaft journaling bosses 33. A transversely extending shaft 34 is stationarily mounted between the boss members 33. Adjacent each end of the shaft member 34 a dog'leg link member 35 is provided; such being pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on the shaft 34 for limited rotational movement thereabout. It will be recognized that while each of the links 35 is connected in the manner described to the shaft 34, its upper end is journaled about shaft 26 to provide bearing support during rotationalmqYemfint of the lattershaft therein. The right hand shaft 26', as viewed in Figure l, is similarly supported by an elongated bracket 35 rigidly connected to the opposite side of the base member I3 of the press, which, like bracket 3! is provided with a pair of spaced apart arm 31 supported by angularly disposed brace members 38. Arms 37 each have bearing portions 39 at the extreme ends thereof in which a secondary shaft 40, similar to shaft 34. is received and supported. A pair of dog le members ll, of similar size and dimension to links 35, interconnect shaft 45 with the shaft 26'. Links, as with links 35 described heretofore, are pivotally mounted on shaft 43 intermediate their ends for pivotal movement thereabout and are loosely journaled at their upper ends about the shaft 26.

Further, it will be recognized that link members 4| and 35 are mounted in parallel relation and that the arms 32 and 31 of the brackets 3| and 36 respectively are likewise mounted in parallel relation to the various bars 24 and 28 to make up a parallelogram linkage. To provide a means for actuating the parallelogram linkage described above, lower arms 45 extend angularly outward from the pivotal junction of the links 35 with the shaft 34. As seen in Figure 2 of the drawings, a yoke member 46 extends transversely between arms 35 and is rigidly connected therewith. The yoke 46 is further provided with a pair of central arms 41, 41, to the lower end of which is pivotally joined a piston rod 48 of a hydraulic actuating ram 43 as shown in dotted lines of Figure l. The ram 49, of course, provides the necessary rocking motion of the yoke and links 35 about the pivotal is pivotally connected to the yoke member 46 as by pivot pin 54. It will thus be recognized that upon movement of the piston rod 48 of the ram 49 to the left, as seen in Figure 1, the parallelogram linkage attached thereto comprising the various links 35, bars 24 and 28, links 4|, and transfer rod 53 will cause the conveyor chains 23 and the supporting structure therefor to move in a clockwise arcuate direction upwardly as viewed in that figure to reach their Figure 3 position. Conversely, retraction of the hydraulic ram rod 48 will cause the conveyor chains 23 and the supporting linkage structure to move in an arcuate path downwardly or counterclockwise, as viewed in Figure 1 of the drawings, to assume their Figure 1 position.

In order to provide means for rotatably driving the shafts 23 and 25' for the, purpose of moving the link chains 23 about the supporting sprockets 21, a second link drive chain 55 is provided. As. will be recognized from Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings in particular, the shaft 26' at the right hand side of the press is provided with a double or a pair of sprocket wheels adjacent one end; one of said sprocket wheels being a sprocket wheel 2? about which one of the chains 23 is carried. The drive chain 55 engages the second sprocket wheel (not, shown) on shaft 26' for rotatably driving that shaft. Means for supplying a power drive to the drive chain 55 comprises a conventional motor 55 coupled to a conventional gear reducer 51 through a coupling 58..

assassin ontputzshatti- 59: of. the: reduction gear system 51- is" provided with a driving; sprocketv 60. over which the drive chain 55 is trained. Intermediate the drive: sprocket and the secondary sprocket (-not shown on shaft 26) an idler wheel Ed is, mounted on pivot shaft. se for tensioningi the drive chain? and. training. such: to clear the pivot shaft 40 as the conveyor table: 25!]: is moved in its arcua-te The head It: is,. of course, connected tothelowerendv of a. piston rod. 14' associated in. a conventional; mannerwith: thehydraulic,v mechanical. or

pneumatic: ram associated with the: press:

FromiFigure 2- in. particular. it will be recognized that: the lower end ofv the piston rod Hi is fitted with. an. upper: ring plate: IE. which is threadinglyreceived in; coaxial relation thereabout. Immediately below the ring. plate. 5. a lower circular head plate 7.6 is provided concentrically outwardly of a connecting cap member 1T which embraces the. lower end of the ram rod 1:4..beheath. ringplate I 5. Plate 1:6 is separated and held in resilient relation for: vertical movement. relative to the ring plate 1J5- by a plurality of compressive springs It which are suitably received in pockets formed in. adjacent faces of the plates 15' and. it. Immediately below plate 16 asecon'diany lower head plate is is provided; such being rigidly connected to the head. plate 16 by bolts or the like. Three ear members 81.1 are formed integrally with. the secondary plate T9 and each receives angularly therethrough a cylindrical finger rod member 8 so that such rods project angularly downward, and radially outward of the cars 80, such being adapted for sliding movement therein. Below the ears an a larger diameter upper contacting head ring 62 is provided, and bears a diameter commensurate with the diameter" of the supporting wheel rim- 13' associated with the tire assembly. Ring 82' is invaded'by the finger rods 81 and'is provided with suitable passageways 83 therethrough for the sliding reception of the finger rods 81, as particularly shown'i'n Figures 2 and '3 of the drawings; The

upper head contacting ring 82 is rigidly tied to the ring plate T6 by means of intervening web members 85 which aresuitably welded or otherwise rigidly fastened in between the two plates to-keep thesame in a desiredparallel spaced rela-- tion and concentrically related in coaxial d isposi tionwith the piston rod M of the hydraulic ram- I5. Located immediately below the cap member TI is a, truncated conical member 8? which contacts theinner ends of the finger rods 84'; such being loosely received intermediate the three finger members and housed in a cavity within plate member 19 for vertical movement in response to depressing actuationof the hydraulic ram rod M of the press. To insure a steady contact of the adjacentends of the finger rods 8tw-ith the face of the conical actuating member 81 compressiv springs 83 surround the ends of the finger rods radially inward of the ear members 891;, such being connectivel'y attached tothe ends of the finger rods and adapted to keep the finger rodsin constant engagement with the surface of the. conical. actuating. member 81. To insure against rotational: movement of. the-head assem? a: linkage at is connected: betweeni one. of: the ribs '85 and; the: framing. ot the press: Iii. 'lioxgnarantee accurate positioning of the tire and wheel assembly relative tothe: actuating head; assembly 1-0: of our tire assembling. machine, we: have provided a limit stop '95- on the right hand. side ot the: press: head I21, as viewed in Figure 3 of'the drawings From. that figure it will be seen that the stop comprises: an angular supporting arm 96, to the lower end of which ispivotally connected a dog leg link 91 which is adapted for ar'cuate movement relative to arm 96 by means of an actuating hydraulic or'pneumatic piston and cylinder arrangemer-it 98, one end of which is pivotally tied to the head of the press and the other end of. which. is pivotally tied to the link: 9 intermediate its ends. The lower end of the link 9 supports a. limit switch- H10 of a, plunger variety and a stop plate: IIIH mounted. rigid-1y to the lower endof the dog leg link. 91. The stop plate HlI is provided with an opening near one edge through whicha plunger I92. of the switch I-EIJ projects for actuation: upon. contact with the tire 1-2 as will be described later herein.

Further, guiding; oi the tire assembly when such is being. positioned under the actuating head It of our: tire assemblingv machine is provided. by means of a forward guide rail means I03 which is. mounted. on the front end of the machine forwardly and above the bed plate H. A similar guide rail W4 is mounted on the vertical portion II of the press frame to act as a. limiting guide means inpositioning for the rearward side of the tire assembly.

.A. pair of switches I 05 and [B6 are mounted on the head. of the press, one on each side of asliding rod member I01 which is carried by plate member 16 of the head assembly and guidedby bracket H38 fastened to the head of the press. A lug I09, carrying, a finger H0 i mounted near the upper end of the rod member ID! and a second lug. II I- is mounted adjacent the lower end of rod I-IJL. It will. be recognized that the finger I I0 is adapted to contact and actuate switch I05 upon depression ofv the head assembly while lug I I I is adapted tocontact and actuate switch I06 upon. raisingv of the head assembly; the lug bypassing, switch I in its contacting of Switch J6.

. Having. thus set forth the. various elements and their associated combined relationin'thev tire. and wheel assembling machine. of our invention, reference is made to Figure 4 of the drawings wherein a schematic wiring diagram of the various control switches. and. circuits is displayed.

As will'be recognized from Figured, a hydraulic pump motor H2 and. the conveyor motor 56 are connected in circuit with a source of 440 volt, 60cycle, A. C. electrical energy. It will be recognized that two power lines H3 and H4 are bridged by a starting circuit H5" for the hydraulic pump motor and a starting circuit" I I6 for the conveyor motor 5B. The starting circuit II5 includes a plunger variety stop switch I I I, which is normally closed in circuit; a normally open manual starting switch I'I8, a relay designated H, an overload protector H 9 and a contact I-I-I in a holding circuit connected in parallel relation to the starting switch IIB. Direct connection of the hydraulic: pum motor I I2 with the power lines H 3" and m is made by leads I20 and [21 with lead I 20 connecting to the power line I'M and lead I121 connecting to the power line II3-. A third grounder neutral power conductor I22 accesse is connected directly to motor H2 via conductor I233. The circuit from conductor H4 to motor H2 via conductor I20 includes a relay contact H-2 and an overload fuse I24. Circuit from power conductor H3 to motor H2 includes conductor I2 I, a relay contact H-3 and an overload fuse I24. It will be recognized that upon depression of the normally open starting switch H8 relay H is energized closing the holding circ'uit including the contact H-I and in sequence the contacts H-2 and H-3 to the motor. Upon manual release of the starting switch H8, so that such may assume its normally open position, the holding circuit from the relay H through the contacts H-I, H-2 and I-I-3 maintains the circuit to motor H2 in a closed condition for the energization of the latter. Breaking of the circuit in the stopping of motor H2 is accomplished by the depression of the normally I closed switch I I1.

- Circuit I I6 to the conveyor motor 56 includes a normally closed stop switch I25, a normally open start switch I26, a relay designated 1V, an over load protector I21 and a parallel holding circuit containing contact M-I for bypassing the start switch I26. Connection of motor 56 to the power lead H4 is accomplished through conductor I28 which is in circuit with a relay contact M-2 and an overload protective fuse I29. Likewise, a conductor I30 connects motor 56 to the power conductor H3 and a third conductor I3I connects the motorto the neutral conductor I22 of the incoming power conductors. Conductor I30 includes in circuit relay contacts M4 and fuse protector I29. Conductor I3I is likewise in circuit with relay contacts M-3. As with the starting of the hydraulic motor H0, depression of the start switch I26 associated with the conveyor motor 56 causes an excitation of relay M to provide the closing of the contacts M-I in the holding circuit and the subsequent closing of relay contacts M-2, M-3 and M4 to energize the motor 56. Release of the normally opened start switch I26 in the conveyor motor circuit may then be made with the energization of the motor 56 being carried on through the bypassing holding circuit including the contacts M-I. As with stop switch H1 of the hydraulic pump motor circuit, the normally closed stop switch I25 in the conveyor motor circuit serves to interrupt the energization of motor 55 upon manual depression.

Also associated in parallel circuit across the power conductors H3 and H4 are a plurality of control switches for the sequential control and actuation of the various elements of our tire and wheel assembly machine. A stop down switch I35'is connected by conductor I36 in circuit with a solenoid I31 and the power conductors H3 and H4. Depression of the normally open, manually actuated switch E35 serves to energize solenoid I31 for actuating a valve (not shown) controlling the flow of oil, which is pressurized by the hydraulic pump motor I I2, to the hydraulic piston and cylinder 68 controlling the arcuate actuation of the stop member 95; thus providing a manual control for placing the stop plate IllI in its down or Figure 1 position wherein such is adapted to regulate the positioning of the tire relative to the head assembly 16 of the hydraulic press.

Switch I60, which is mounted at the end of the stop arm 91, is connected in circuit with the conductor leads H3 and H4 by means of a conductor I38 and is in circuit with a second solenoid I39. Solenoid I39 controls a valve (not shown) regulating the fiow of pressurized fluid to the actuating piston and cylinder 49 which serves to control the arcuate movement of the movable conveyor table 26 for retracting the same arcuately downward to its Figure 1 position; this downward actuation of the conveyor 26 taking place automatically upon the positioning of the tire in its appropriate condition relative to the actuating head 10 wherein switch I00 is closed by contact with the tire 12.

A ram down switch I40 is also connected across the power conductors H3 and H4 by means of a conductor I4I which connects the switch I40 in circuit with a ram solenoid I42. Ram solenoid I42 controls the valving of the hydraulic fluid to the actuating ram I5 of the press for moving the same downwardly to depress the head assembly 10 of our tire and wheel assembling apparatus. It will be recognized that the ram down switch I40 i of a manual variety providing manual control of the downwardly actuation of the press ram. Depression of the ram to its full down position, as controlled by switch I45, causes finger III], which is movable with the upper head plate 16, to contact and close switch I05 which is connected across power leads H3 and H4 by conductor I43 and is in circuit with a solenoid I44 which serves to direct the valving of the pressurized hydraulic fluid to actuate the press ram I5 upwardly. It will be recognized that switch I 05 is actuated automatically upon the depression of the head assembly 10 to its fully down position wherein the locking ring 1| is locked with the tire wheel 13. Means for manually controlling the upward movement of the press ram I5, if desired, is provided through switch I45 which is a normally open manual variety and connected in parallel circuit with switch I05.

Switch I06 which is contacted and closed by lug HI, upon the upward movement of the press ram, is connected across the power leads H3 and H4 by means of a conductor I46 and is associated in circuit with a solenoid I41. The actuation of switch I05 is automatic and the energization of solenoid I41 serves to control the flow of hydraulic fluid to the piston and ram assembly 93 controlling the stop member 95 for moving the same upwardly to its Figure 3 position. A manually actuated conveyor up switch I53 is also provided in circuit with power conductors H3 and H4 by means of a connecting conductor I5! and is in circuit with a solenoid I52; the latter of which controls the flow of the hydraulic fluid to the ram and piston assembly 49 for moving the conveyor table 20 arcuately upward to its Figure 3 position after completion of the assembly of the tire wheel and locking ring.

Use and operation In utilizing our tire and wheel assembling machine as described, a tire, such as 12, which is to be fitted with a locking ring TI, is first assembled with the wheel rim 13 and placed on an incoming conveyor of the roller variety as demonstrated at I60 in Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings. In the assembly line production and comloining of the tire locking ring with such tire and wheel rim assemblies, a plurality of such tire and wheel rims are constantly moved along the conveyor I60 to the operator stationed at our machine. Upon approaching the rim assembling station in the assembly line the operator manually moves the tire 12, assembled withcircuit.

which runs constantly from left to right as "viewed in Figures 1 and 3 and which is positioned, at this stage, in its tupward position .so that it lies at a level with the bed .of the roller conveyor Jllill. Since the chains 23 are constantly driven throughout the operation of our tire wheel assembling machine, the tire is carried by the two parallel spaced chains :23 between the lateral guide supports 103 and me to re ister against-the stop member 195 which is lowered to itsliigure 1 position in response to energization of the switch 135 and its associated .As the tire comes into registerin alignment :beneath the movable head assemb y 10 of our machine, switch :lllfl, associated with the stop .95 is depressed automatically to cause the lowering of the conveyor table .29. Lowering of the conveyor ,120 serves to align the tire wheel 13 on the upper chamfered edge of the ilxture ring ,22 centrally and ,coaxially beneath the movable head assembly .9 of our machin :Having thus positioned the wheel and tire :in condition for assembly with the lock-ingrind; th

:Qperator then depr sses the manually controlled switch J40 which serves "to hydraulically actu- :ate the ram assembly l of the press downwardly to move the head assembly 10 into contest with a locking ring H which has been previously-placed in position for assembly with wheel rim 13 by the operator. Downward actuation of the head assembly, of course, serves togpermit engagement of the locking ring H by the several .rod members 8| which, under the impetus of the vertical downward force of the head assembly and the actuation of :the conical surface of the actuator 81, move radially outwardly to expand ring H and cause same to clear the beaded rim edge of the tire wheel 73. With the locking ring thus expanded radially outward into a position where its release will permit snapping engagement thereof with the tire wheel, the operator then depresses the manually actuated switch I45 if necessary, or

the automatically actuated switch I135 responds on contact with finger I I0, causing the retraction of the head assembly upwardly. The removal ofthe head assembly from the locking ring 1| permits its locking engagement with the rim of the tire wheel ,as desired. Upon upward vertical movement of the head assembly, lug Ill contacts switch N16 to automatically actuate the stop member 95 :for retracting the same upwardly to its Figure 3 position wherein the tire supporting rim and locking ring as .assembled may be moved to an outgoing roller To disengage the wheel and tire conveyor lfil. assembly from the fixture ring 22, the operator depresses the manually actuated switch I50 which serves to move the conveyor bed 20 arcuately upwardly to its Figure 3 position wherein the moving chains 23 carry the assembled tire, wheel and locking ring onto the roller conveyor 16!. The operator then assembles another tire and wheel with a locking ring beneath the head of our assembling machine for locking the ring with the tire wheel by repeating the above operational steps. While it is realized that several modifications and changes as to sequence and style of automatic actuation of the several movements necessary for the assembly of the tire, wheel and locking ring as described above may be made, the above sequence and mode of operation is preferred.

Thus it may be recognized that we have provided a new and improved tire and wheel assembling machine of the character used for locking either closed or open style locking rings with a tire and wheel and in "which is utilized a new and improved movable conveyor table adapted to carry the heavy tire and wheel assemblies into and away from a position for assembly with the locking ring, the latter of which is expanded and snapped in place with the rim of the "tire wheel under the influence of a hydraulically or elsewise actuated vertical press ram provided with a movable head which acts against a fixture designed to support the tire and wheel assembly.-

While various changes, modificationsand substitutions of equivalents may "be made our above described perferred embodiment of our invention, we do not wish to be limited to :the specific features of the illustrated mechanism other than as may appear in the .following appended claims.

We claim:

1. A tire and wheel assembling lnachine-ofthe class describedcomprising, a vertical ground sena ing frame, a verticallymovable ram-supported adjacent the upper end of said frame, a fixture ring supported fixedly and in coaxial relation below said ram for supporting an unassembled tire, wheel and locking ring in concentric and coaxial relation below said ram, a head assembly movable with said ram and mounted at the lower end of the latter for contacting and expanding said locking ring radially and concentrically outwardly for locking engagement with one edge of said wheel, a pair of motor driven, endless, articulate chains supported in parallel spaced relation on opposite sides of :said fixture ring by means of a pivotal parallelogram linkage system and adapted to carry said wheel and tire onto and away from said fixture ring, and

an actuating means connected to said parallelogramlinkage and said frame for p'ivotally moving said linkage to simultaneously move said two chains in parallel arcuate paths "towardand away from said fixture ring and vertically above and below the upper edge thereof to provide means for moving said tire and wheel to be assembled with said locking ring horizontally toward and prisingin combination a pal-r of articulate, endless, conveyor chains positioned in vertical spaced planes disposed in horizontal parallel spaced relation on opposite sides of said fixture ring, a pair of coplanar, rotatable shafts disposed transversely of said chains and in parallel spaced relation on opposite sides of said fixture ring, each shaft carrying sprocket wheels for driving connection with each of said chains; an arcuately movable parallelogram linkage system. interconnecting and supporting said two shafts whereby such are movable therewith in fixed parallel spaced relation and in arcuate paths about coplanar and parallel spaced horizontal axes, drive means for simultaneously driving said two chains and shafts at like speeds and in the same direction, and means for actuating said linkage system to carry simultaneously said chains in a vertical arcuate path from a position below the upper edge of said fixture ring to a position above the upper conveyor is adapted sequentially to move said the and wheel across the upper end of said fixture ring, deposit the same on the upper end thereof, as it is retracted out of engagement with head section, an annular wheel supporting fixture ring mounted fixedly to said lower head section in coaxial spaced relation with respect to said ram means, a head assembly mounted at the lower end of said ram means, movable toward and away from said fixture ring with said ram means and adapted to contact, expand radially outward and press an annular locking ring onto a second rim edge of said'whe'el; and a'conveyor table structure mounted horizontally below said fixture ring, comprising, a parallelogram linkage structure and a pair of motor driven, articulate, endless conveyor chains disposed in parallel spaced relation on opposite sides of said fixture ring and supported by said parallelogram linkage structure; said'chains being constantly and simultaneously driven in the same direction and movable actuately into positions above and below anupper edge'ofisal'd fixture ring to engage and-disengage with said tire, and a hydraulically actuated cylinder and piston means for moving said parallelogram' linkage and chain to said positions; a pair of stop members mounted in fixed spaced relation radially outward and on opposite sides of said fixture ring, and a movable stop means mounted radially outward of a third side of said fixture ring and movable into and out of a fixed stop posi tion relative thereto whereby a tire, wheel and 4. In a vertical press machine for assembling a wheel rim, tire and locking ring, the combination comprising, a supporting grou'nd'engaging frame of a substantially C-shaped configuration, hydraulic ram means mounted for vertical movement on an upper head end of said frame, an annular fixture ring mounted coaxially and concentrically below the lower end of said ram means in a fixed immobile position on a lower head end of said frame, a pair of motor driven, endless,

articulate chains positioned in parallel spaced relation on opposite sides of said fixture ring, a parallellogram linkage system supporting said chains, hydraulic piston and cylinder means connected between said linkage system and said frame for imparting to said linkage system an arcuate movement in a vertical plane, said linkagesystem moving said two chains between an upper horizontal plane, located above an'upper edge of said fixture ring, and a lower horizontal plane, located adjacent a lower edge of said fixture jring; stop means spaced outwardly on three sides of said fixture ring for locating an assembled the and wheel, to 'be fitted with said locking ring, concentrically and coaxially over said upper edge of said fixture ring, one of said stops being selectively movable away from said ring to permit the continued passage of said tire and wheel away from said machine, an upper 'he'ad assembly'mounted on said ram means for movement therewith toward and away from'said fixture ring and housing a plurality of rodm'embers which are simultaneously movable radially "outward thereof upon contact of said headassembly with s'aidlocking' ring positioned concentrically therebelow on said tire 'and wheel to be assembled, said rods contacting and expanding said locking ring to engage the same over one rim edge of said wheel upon the lowering of said head assembly and ram means in proximity to said fixture ring, and an electrical control system for controlling the sequential operational movements of said hydraulicram, said one stop means and the arcuate travel of said two chains and the supporting parallelogram linkage therefor.

r ALBERT H. RERICK. v

GLENN A. KELLOGG.

References Cited in the file of this patent I UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,721,895 Batie July 23,1929 1,850,053 Stevens Mar. 15, 1932 2,488,376 Clauser Nov. 15,1949 

